SUNY Orange plans expansion

MIDDLETOWN — As construction continues on an $85 million expansion of the SUNY Orange branch in Newburgh, college officials are beginning their pitch for a major capital project on their main campus.

BY CHRIS MCKENNA

MIDDLETOWN — As construction continues on an $85 million expansion of the SUNY Orange branch in Newburgh, college officials are beginning their pitch for a major capital project on their main campus.

The $48 million plan consists of a 110,000-square-foot building for classrooms and laboratories, plus a 9,000-square-foot child-care center to replace a much smaller space that program now occupies.

It may seem a bad time to build again, given the state's budget mess and the county's reduced sales-tax income. But one selling point as county lawmakers consider the proposal is that the state earmarked $21.5 million for the work in 2008.

And SUNY Orange President William Richards, who outlined plans for two Legislature committees this week, argues the shaky economy is an advantage because construction may cost less than expected — as it has with the campus expansion in Newburgh.

"Part of my message is that if you're in the public sector, as I am, this is an ideal time to do capital construction," he said.

The larger building would house the community college's science, engineering and math classes — now spread out in four buildings — and its computer servers. A parking garage with about 225 spaces would be attached.

The second building would be for Kindercollege, a day-care program that doubles as a laboratory for such courses as early childhood development. It's now housed in the Sarah Wells Building, which the college plans to tear down.

Sen. John Bonacic, R-C-Mount Hope, secured the $21.5 million grant for SUNY Orange in the 2008 state budget — the last time this region's Republican senators could bestow such largesse before losing their decades-long control of the Senate to the Democrats that fall.

College officials believe that money is safe, despite the power shift in the Senate and financial shipwreck in Albany.

Using the current cost estimate, county taxpayers would supply up to $26.5 million. Richards said he plans to raise private funds to lessen that expense and may seek more state money to equalize the county and state shares.

County lawmakers must approve the project. Richards said he hopes to begin construction in the summer of next year.